Chris Smith, a former NFL defensive end, has passed away at the age of 31, according to his former agent Drew Rosenhaus. The cause of his death is currently unknown. Rosenhaus expressed his condolences and stated that Smith will be deeply missed by his family, friends, and loved ones.

 Chris Smith's high school alma mater, West Rowan Football, also posted about his passing on Twitter. They referred to him as a legend and highlighted his character as a person being greater than his skills as a player.

 Chris Smith played professional football in the XFL and was on the Seattle Sea Dragons team until as recently as Sunday, when they won 30-12 against the St. Louis Battlehawks in St. Louis.

 In a statement to CNN, the XFL expressed their condolences and shared that Chris Smith had a strong presence in the locker room, being loved and respected by both teammates and coaches. They also stated that their thoughts and prayers are with his entire family during this challenging time.

 Smith was drafted in the fifth round of the 2014 NFL Draft by the Jacksonville Jaguars. He later played for the Cincinnati Bengals, Cleveland Browns, Las Vegas Raiders, and most recently, the Houston Texans in 2021.

 Throughout his career, Smith played in a total of 72 NFL games and accumulated 80 tackles and 11 sacks. Those who knew him described him as one of the kindest people, both as a teammate and a friend.